Some snow pics

As much requested, here are some snow pictures... Enjoy!!!

It's Baaaaaack.........

Blizzard Number 2 is upon us. We are at the bottom southeast corner where it turns orange inside the purple. Its snowed 3 inches in and hour and a half. And guess what..... Andy and I are stuck at home together again! Hmmmm, this snow thing is working out in our favor this time. We are warm and safe and glad we are not traveling but thinking of those that are. Hope everyone had a great Christmas and looking forward to a wonderful New Year!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope y'all are having a great Christmas so far, we have been very blessed this Christmas. Andy and I got snowed in together and the biggest present for us was getting to spend so much time together without having to take leave, it has been truly great. Both of us do go on alert tomorrow on Christmas Day, I'll be in Southern Wyoming, Andy will be in Northern Colorado, and we'll both be about 60 feet underground watching Christmas movies tomorrow. We made alot of food today to take out to the younger enlisted troops that are serving away from their families, many for their very first time. It makes my day to bring alot of treats on site and have their eyes just light up, that someone in charge of them, thought of them and took the time to do something nice. It doesn't happen very often here, and it's nice to make someone smile.

We are having our Christmas dinner tonight, Andy is finishing it up. We roasted a chicken, have green beans, corn, garlic mashed potatoes, with cranberries. We are going over to a friend's later tonight for some cocktails and a White Elephant party.

Also, the COOLEST gift I got was getting to tour the Hammond's Candy Factory in Denver yesterday! Thanks Andy again, that was AWESOME! I love candy, I really am a fat kid at heart, and we got to see how they make it all. And at the end of course, the tour dumps right out into the candy store. I think I may have gotten some of the best chocolate of my life, YUM!!!! Thanks babe!

Well, I hope everyone is having a great time and I will update again soon! God bless!!!!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope y'all are having a great Christmas so far, we have been very blessed this Christmas. Andy and I got snowed in together and the biggest present for us was getting to spend so much time together without having to take leave, it has been truly great. Both of us do go on alert tomorrow on Christmas Day, I'll be in Southern Wyoming, Andy will be in Northern Colorado, and we'll both be about 60 feet underground watching Christmas movies tomorrow. We made alot of food today to take out to the younger enlisted troops that are serving away from their families, many for their very first time. It makes my day to bring alot of treats on site and have their eyes just light up, that someone in charge of them, thought of them and took the time to do something nice. It doesn't happen very often here, and it's nice to make someone smile.

We are having our Christmas dinner tonight, Andy is finishing it up. We roasted a chicken, have green beans, corn, garlic mashed potatoes, with cranberries. We are going over to a friend's later tonight for some cocktails and a White Elephant party.

Also, the COOLEST gift I got was getting to tour the Hammond's Candy Factory in Denver yesterday! Thanks Andy again, that was AWESOME! I love candy, I really am a fat kid at heart, and we got to see how they make it all. And at the end of course, the tour dumps right out into the candy store. I think I may have gotten some of the best chocolate of my life, YUM!!!! Thanks babe!

Well, I hope everyone is having a great time and I will update again soon! God bless!!!!!!!!!!!

The Great Blizzard!

Well, we are on the good end of the blizzard meaning Andy and I BOTH are stuck at home! I love it , neither one of us can go to work, so we HAVE to stay home TOGETHER! We left at lunch today, the base closed. Usually, we are on the opposite end, and one or both of us are stuck in the field, so that usually sucks. But not this time, yippee! I do however, feel bad for the crews that are stuck in the field, I'm sorry guys!
So as y'all can see, that big purple front is right on top of us, and it has dumped a foot of snow and still going strong. Winds are high, 35+ so snow is swirling and blowing all over the place, and there are huge snowbanks in some areas, such as fences or against homes and bridges. Very dangerous out there, Colorado has been declared a state of emergency. We heard it forecasted yesterday, so we stocked up on warm foods, have stuff to make chili, enchiladas, spicy shrimp, BBQ sandwiches, we got alot of food. I think I am going to make Andy and Applesauce Spice cake tonight, since we don't have to worry about getting up early or anything.
On another note, we are both done with the inspection, we both did good, and we done with our class. Made an A- so we are very happy with that. Taking 2 next semester, b/c there are no inspections in the Spring, so that will be the best time to do it.
Christmas cards are in the mail, so be looking! Also, when weather permits and we can get out, we are going to get wedding pictures together and on the way. So be expecting those soon for your holiday gifts! They look great, and I know y'all are gonna love them! Mom & Dad, Mary & Monroe, Grandma & Granni we are making photo albums for you, and will send those as soon as they are ready!
Other than that, we are both good. Both healthy, neither one of us got really sick from all the stress. Andy did get a cold, but was able to shake it. We both started taking Air Borne, it really really works. I strongly recommend that to anyone, especially around the holidays when you'll be meeting w/everyone and someone will probably be sick. Awesome stuff!
Our love to all and I will update again soon!!!!!!!!!!

And I thought I've been having it rough

Next time you're feelin' low and a little depressed, always remember there is someone or something rather that is having it far worse than you.....

On the subject of Stress

Everyone knows this famous canvas done by Edward Munch. I think it describes pretty well what Andy and I are both feeling right now. *And FYI for everyone, we have the wedding pic proofs, but we seriously have no time at this moment to decide and order them. After 11 December, we will. But the few we've looked at are terrific, Beth did an outstanding job!* If we can just hang on until 11 December we will be doing great. In that time, a horribly hard midterm with math and just way too many calculations, 40 pages worth of writing for a group project and an individual project, 80+ hour work weeks for ever increasing work for the inspection that is 4-10 December will have come and gone. And if we are standing and alive at the end of all of that, we have finished a success. So needing some uplifting, I found the following quotes on strength and perseverance.

* If there is any responsibility in the cycle of life it must be that one generation owes to the next that strength by which it can come to face ultimate concerns in its own way. -Erik Erikson
* When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. -Franklin D. Roosevelt
* Our real problem, then, is not our strength today; it is rather the vital necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow. -Dwight D. Eisenhower
* I believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do, provided he keeps doing them until he gets a record of successful experiences behind him. -Eleanor Roosevelt
* Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men! Do no pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for power equal to your tasks. -Phillips Brooks
* Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail. -Ralph Waldo Emerson
* Fortunately for themselves and the world, nearly all men are cowards and dare not act on what they believe. Nearly all our disasters come of a few fools having the "courage of their convictions. -Coventry Patmore
* Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will. -Mahatma Gandhi
* Never, never, never give up. -Winston Churchill
* You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, "I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along." . . . You must do the thing you think you cannot do. -Eleanor Roosevelt
* And each man stand with his face in the light of his own drawn sword. Ready to do what a hero can. -Elizabeth Barrett Browning
* It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires great strength to decide on what to do. -Elbert Hubbard
* Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. -Theodore Roosevelt
* Although men are accused of not knowing their own weakness, yet perhaps few know their own strength. It is in men as in soils, where sometimes there is a vein of gold which the owner knows not of. -Jonathan Swift
* I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward. Thomas A. Edison

And one of my favorite and motivating stories, is when Thomas Edison was asked what kept him motivated one failed attempt after another at trying to make the world's first lightbulb and how he dealt with so much failure. He replied with, "I found 10,000 ways NOT to make a lightbulb. But I only needed to find 1 way to make it work."

A few more pics

Jake better known as Indiana Jones



















Sam Spears as "The Peep Show"


















This was hilarious!!!!!





















Rach and Eric (my old commander)







Maria

& Keira

These are just a few more pics from Halloween that I wanted to share w/everyone. Maria and Jake's party was a blast! I think Sam's and Andrew Martin's costumes were just crazy and so funny, but Andy's costume was right up there with them. And I must say Andy makes the ugliest woman I've ever seen!

More Halloween pics

Sarah and Sean






Andrew Martin as a 300lb ballerina











Andy, the hooker and Jake S.







Andrewlina and "Tha Pimp"




Another Addams family pic

Yea Keri!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, ladies and gents it is official.....Keri has passed that Texas BAR exam, and is now a bonafide lawyer! Check out this link:
http://www.celebration-bar-exam-review.com/Index.htm?http&&&www.celebration-bar-exam-review.com/news.htm
Go to the B's and there she will be! Ok, and for the record Keri, I have no idea how this thing is scored, but yours is in the 4000's and I saw very very very few that were comparable or close. People were scoring in the 1000's so it looks like you just blew everyone away, like there was any doubt lady! CONGRATS on a job well done, and I hope you are enjoying Baker & Botts!!!!

Night 1

LtCol Pappas (Zeus) and his wife
Gomez and Morticia
Caught in the middle of eating
Lt Col Stanley
Halloween jack o' lanterns

Here are a few pics of night one of the Halloween parties. LtCol Stanley hosted this one, and it was a good time. Andy and I went as Morticia and Gomez Addams, but we had to explain it, since people kept calling us Sonny and Cher. C'mon? LtCol Pappas had everyone rolling, he's Greek and confirmed that 85% of what you saw in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" was true, even down to the Windex cures everything! Apparently, it is the ammonia in the WIndex that is the miracle cure, haha! Great time, and got us ready for Halloween party Number 2.....

Pumpkin carvin' time

Well it's that time of year where your doorbell rings and on the other side, there we are hoping that you'll give us some candy even though we are 27. Haha, all jokes aside, Halloween is such a fun time of the year. We are starting off by carving some pumpkins tonight with friends. Friday we have a Halloween party at LtCol Stanley's house, then Saturday is perhaps THE BIGGEST PARTY OF THE YEAR at Jake and Maria Pairsh's home. They have completely decked out the basement, covered all of the walls with black trash bags, have rented a fog machine, and a speaker system, so it is going to be one awesome "Monster Mash!" I will definitely post pics from that! Last year was lots of fun!!! Hope everyone has some fun plans, if not, well it is not too late, Make some! Love to all!!!

One month and counting...

Well, it is hard to believe that it has really been a month since we said I DO!, and then gave each other a high-five on the altar when Fr. Gary pronounced as husband and wife, but it has!

Andy has done the math, and for each month that goes by, that means that 2% more of our time here at FE Warren is done. Whoop!

For our month anniversary, we didn't do anything that special, I made dinner, chicken enchiladas. As far as the cooking schedule goes, since we both work full-time, whoever worked the least amount of hours cooks that night. But sometimes that just doesn't work either and we'll go out instead. It works great for us. Hope everyone is doing well, love ya'll!

Halloween!!!!

Well, since Halloween is just around the corner, naturally Andy and I have been trying to figure out what we are going to be. We both love Halloween, so this is really a big decision for us. So we've got it! (If the pictures have not tipped you off already). PAPA SMURF & SMURFETTE! Since those of you checking this are out of town and cannot steal the idea, I thought I'd share it with you. So stay tuned for these pics when they go up in about 3 weeks........!

A recipe for the grill

Hay Dad this one is for you! I know last night you were saying how you wanted to find something new to throw on the grill. Well, here it is. You know when you go to a restaurant and how their chicken fajitas always taste so good, and no matter how much you try you just can't seem to duplicate the taste? Yes you can! Their secret ingredient is very simple: Italian dressing! And you can easily fit this into your healthy life-style like we do by getting fat-free or light Italian dressing.

Lime Chicken Kabobs (serves 6, perfect for leftovers & lunches)
Italian dressing
6 chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks
wooden swekers (you could buy steel ones, we just use wood)
1 red bell pepper
1 red onion cut into chunks
1 (16oz) can pineapple rings, drained and cut into 1-inch pieces
3 limes

In a large plastic Ziploc bag, put chicken and squeeze enough Italian dressing in to cover the chicken completely. Marinate in the fridge about 2-4 hours, the longer will add more flavor. About 20 minutes before you start cooking, soak your kabobs in water. (If you don't there is a really good chance they will burn up)
-Preheat your grill. Be sure to spray it down first w/Pam b/c you don't want your stuff to stick. You want medium-high heat about 350-400F.
-Prep your veggies.
-Take out chicken, and start making your kabobs. Alternate chix, pineapple, red pepper, onion then start over.
- Grill your kabobs covered, for about 15-20 minutes, turning occassionally.

While your kabobs are cooking prepare white rice, we use the quick rice, and just adjust how many servings we want.
-Once your kabobs are done, bring them in and serve them on top of your rice. Squirt half a lime over each serving and enjoy!

HUMMUS!

WOW, thank you Keri! Naturally the first thing we were going to make with the new food processor was hummus, and it was fantastic! This worked out so much better than the blender fiasco we had when we last tried to make it haha! THANK YOU!!!!!

Just a hello

I know you all are waiting on more pics, so are we, they are coming I promise. Just wanted to post a quick update to let everyone know that we are getting busy again with work, and with our grad school class, so I will call as I get time. I am starting a big project with school, so it is taking up quite a bit of time. Andy and I are both taking Risk Management this is class 7 of 12. Our Master's program is through George Washington Univ., in Project Management. It is similar to an MBA, not as math intensive though. Should be useful when we start our business empire!
Right now I just don't have the extra time that I know will be spent on the phone, so I am just putting some updates here. Please be patient with us! Our love to all!

Just some wedding thoughts

Well, I am taking a break from the mountain of laundry that I am doing after unpacking my suitcase from the honeymoon. I am really irritated that when I got my luggage back, one suitcase had a cut in it on the back, and the other little one was missing a wheel! So it has been dubbed the wheel-less wonder.
But I was thinking back on everything and thought I would share my thoughts while all of you are waiting on more pictures....
A couple of days before the wedding: A huge pile of clothes on the bed while I am trying to figure out what I really want to take for the honeymoon. Wow! Is it really here? Has the year really gone by this fast and I am about to marry my best friend in just a couple of days? I am so glad that all of the planning has made this year go by quickly, and jeez I can't wait to move away from Cheyenne! I think of all my friends that have supported me while I have been doing all of my planning, and remember the jerk-offs at work that have criticized me for taking some personal time for myself. But then I also remember and smile that they are not coming to the wedding and they aren't going to Mexico either. I feel better now.
Trying on the wedding dress again before the big day: Man I am so glad that I have been working out! The dress looks fabulous and I really can't wait to wear it! (This is before it has been fully laced up!) I am very happy with my body and the way I look, I am so glad that I have stayed on top of everything and continued my workouts even though I really didn't want to. And I did tan a month before, even though I knew Keri wouldn't like it. I have gotten pretty light here, there really is no ambient sunlight here and I MISS my TEXAS tan so much! I look so pasty and white for most of the year, that when we do plan a vacation anywhere we usually tan for a month so we won't roast on the trip.
More thoughts....I am really starting to wonder if I am going to have time to visit with everyone! I still haven't managed to finish packing b/c I have been cleaning house! Andy and I have both been so busy that it is really a task to keep our house picked up. I start to develop a basic itinerary to fit everything in, to visit with everyone as much as possible between finishing the last minute details. Oh I just hope everything turns out ok!
Family is here! Everyone started rolling in, and I was really glad that everyone made it in safe. Was a little scared that Andy's family wasn't gonna make it, their flight was delayed and I was wondering if it was going to be too late for the dinner. But they did make it! Got to visit with everyone here at our house for a little bit and show them everything. I hope the massive amount of winemaking junk and the still in the basement doesn't offend anyone! But I can't hide it so it stays. Jeez, Grandma I promise I am not really an alcoholic, I know this doesn't help my case at all! So glad that the families are getting along great! The Dads like each other and the Moms too, oh this is great! You know that;s one thing you always wonder about, I hope the like each other, what if they don't.... but it worked out great!
Night before...Well the girls stayed at Melissa's place and it was nice to be alone and just be quiet and rest for a little bit. I didn't have to think about anything just rest. But I did reflect back on everything that had brought me to this point. I am so happy and still just wondering is this real, is it a dream am I about to wake up? I met Andy when I thought I could never love again and my heart had been crushed. I had started completely over in a new state, and I had no furniture, not even a bed! I went to Walmart when I got to California and bought a $50 hammock and slept in that for 3 months b/c I had no money, and I was too proud to ask my family for help. I needed to recover and do it all on my own. It made me stronger than I ever thought possible. And in the midst of everything I met the most wonderful person in my life. Someone to make me laugh and we make each other laugh so much! I am so happy we have the exact same sense of humor. It is so wonderful to have someone there beside me no matter what, to push me and help me when I think there is no way out and everything is too dark and I cannot see any light. Someone to just hold me and let me cry if I need to. Andy is the love of my life!!!! And tomorrow we are about to be married, I am going to be his wife! I feel honored to have such an awesome husband!
Wedding day!!!! I finally managed to get some sleep but I still feel pretty tired when I wake up. The alarm went off, but I turned it off, so thank goodness Keri came to see if I was up and let me snooze while she was in the shower. Got my makeup all done, it is perfect, and got out hair fixed and we all just look fabulous! Off to the church, now and time to put on my dress! But oh my gosh! I had no idea it was going to be quite that tight all laced up, I really felt like Rose from Titanic! Lace it up! Ok so it is on and we are ready! I can't wait for everyone to see it! Walk down the aisle with Daddy, oh my gosh he just looks so handsome, I am so happy he is here to walk me! Everyone looks fantastic and I can't stop smiling! The ceremony is going by so fast. At one point I almost missed the chair when I sat back down, did anyone see that???! Then the dress is really getting tight, I can't exhale enough to get more air and I really think I am going to pass out in the chair. I was so dizzy, and started seeing sparkles. I keep taking shorted breaths and the feeling finally passes! After pictures, we are off to the reception, and I really can't wait to chat with everyone. All the girls are just in awe of the dress, yes it really was a corset top! Several felt the boning in the sides. I gulp down some water, and am disappointed when I can't eat very much. But that's ok, it is one day, I can eat later. And I am so happy that my tummy can't pooch out in any picture hahaha!!!! So I am pretty happy and smiling to myself that I will probably like all the pictures. We had such a wonderful time at the reception it seemed so classic really like all of us were in a early 1900 movie set. It was such an awesome feeling! I have had such a wonderful time celebrating with everyone, my favorite part was the champagne! I loved that! I hope everyone has enjoyed everything as much as we did, everyone certainly seemed too. And more than a few guests came up to me and commented on how cool the venue was and that they really felt like they were in Titanic! That was a huge compliment to me! After everyone left, it was just me Andy and Eric. Eric played the piano for me, for a bit, gosh he is so good and played my favorite song, Clocks by Coldplay. It reminds me of Andy and when we first started dating and just really gives me chills every time because we have so many memories attached to that song. It was the last song I heard before coming to the church too, in the salon. I just sat there in the chair, and smiled. It was really cool to hear it.
So I have rambled on quite a bit and the clothes are still waiting so I will break. Keep checking back as I will continue to post more updates!

A few wedding pics

Toasting flutes from Amy & Richard

Ceremony w/Fr. Gary

Maid of honor/best man
Keri Brown, Eric Baird

Ok, I know its just a few pics, but this is all I have right now and these are from Eric Chin. I will publish more as I get them, have not gotten any pics from the photographer yet. Had a wonderful time, will update more soon!

A few wedding pics

Toasting flutes from Amy & Richard


Maid of honor/best man Keri, us, Eric



Ceremony with Fr. Gary

OK, so we just got back, and we are trying to get everything back to normal, so here a just a few pics, i will post more as I get them. These are from our friend Eric Chin. Have not gotten any pics back from photographer.
We had a great time, I hope everyone enjoyed themselves, it was really just fabulous!